Scientists at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona have recorded footage of a key stage of human development in real time, and in 3D, for the first time. In doing so, they witnessed a surprisingly invasive event that they hope could provide insights that may one day help treat infertility.
For the first time, scientists have recorded a human embryo implanting into a womb in real time, a feat the researchers hope will lead to new ways to treat infertility and prevent miscarriages.
Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have recorded human embryo implantation in real time for the first time, using an innovative system developed in the laboratory that simulates the outer layers of the uterus in 3D. Implantation failure is one of the main causes of infertility, accounting for 60% of miscarriages. The work, published in the journal Science Advances, may help to better understand the mechanisms underlying the implantation process, improving fertility rates and optimising assisted reproduction processes.
Investigadores del Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña recrean un útero artificial y observan en directo y de forma inédita uno de los momentos clave en el desarrollo de una persona
Groundbreaking footage shows ‘surprisingly invasive’ process and may help to improve infertility treatments
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) attended the opening of the exhibition, which highlights extinct fauna that remains present in the collective imagination. The exhibition includes a section dedicated to the Tasmanian tiger featuring a piece by Antoni Muntadas, on which IBEC collaborated with Benedetta Bolognesi, a principal investigator at the institute.
Ref: PD-EG // Deadline: 01/09/2025